Ill 
NUTMEGS AND MACE 
14T 
3. Singapore Mace, — An inferior kind, probably 
one of the wild island nutmegs imported into Singapore, 
as mace is not produced on the island. 
Banda mace is the aril of the true nutmeg, and is 
practically the same as Penang, though Penang mace is 
generally considered the best in the market. As met 
with in commerce it is pale orange brown or brownish 
yellow, battened, to if in. long, f to 1 in. wide, the 
forked segments having rounded axils. The tips are 
usually folded over into a kind of cap. The surface is 
dull. The flavour like that of the nutmeg, but distinct, 
but there is no acridity. 
Bombay mace is the mace of the Indian nutmeg 
Myristica malaharica. It is of little or no value, 
though it appears in commerce. It is longer than 
genuine mace, not flattened, of a deep reddish-brown, 
about in. long, f to 1 in. wide, and is cut up into 
numerous divisions, mostly with extremely narrow axils, 
and more forked at the tips. It has a polished surface 
and a sweetish taste, somewhat mucilaginous, with a 
very faint flavour without any pungency (E. M. Holmes, 
Pharmaceutical Journal, November 21, 1908, p. 652). 
Bombay mace and such other maces are only used 
to adulterate true powdered mace. 
PACKING 
Mace is packed in casks containing about 280 lb. 
each. The casks are made of teak, and care is taken 
to seal up any cracks with dammar resin or any other 
suitable material, for the spice is apt to be injured 
seriously by any leakage of sea- water. If teak casks 
are unprocurable, any wood, not resinous, and sound, 
would do. 
In packing, a man stands inside the cask and treads 
the mace down with bare feet, while another pours it in 
from a basket. 
